Lacrosse: Commodores stun No. 2 Duke, 8-6

Vanderbilt Media Release

04/02/2003

The Vanderbilt women's lacrosse team recorded one of the biggest victories in program history with an 8-6 victory over second-ranked Duke Wednesday afternoon at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex. This victory for the Commodores is their highest ranked win in school history.

The Commodores, who improved their overall record of 4-4, battled Duke (9-2) to a 3-3 tie at halftime. On the strength of a goal scored in the first minute of the second period, Vanderbilt continued to dominate the action and never allowed Duke to regain the lead.

Leading the Commodores individually from the crease was sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Bastinelli, who recorded fourteen amazing saves. Her performance on the defensive side of the field was heavily complemented by a strong team defensive effort by Vanderbilt.

On the offensive side, Vanderbilt worked overtime to find holes in the Blue Devil defense. They would have to shoot smart, clean, and accurate
goals in order to score against Duke's capable defense. Scorers for Vanderbilt included Lauren Peck (3), Jessica Roguski (1), Michelle Allen (1), Kelly Devlin (1), Tara Schmucker (1), and Jeanie Crawley (1).

"I am so proud of these girls today for working their butts off in the game," said Head Coach Cathy Swezey. "They earned this win and deserved it outright. Our defensive was strong and our offense was smart. They kept their heads in the game and never let the intensity die down."

The Commodores prepare for another road game against nationally ranked Cornell on Sunday, April 6. The next home game for Vanderbilt is April 12 at 1 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Lacrosse Complex against North Carolina.